What comes to mind for you when you think of Key West?
Lazing on the beach under the shade of a palm tree?
Sipping drinks in a bar on Duval Street?
Watching the sun drop past the horizon from Mallory Square?
It’s not a big place but there are lots of things to do in Key West, Florida.
In this video, we’re going to look at some of the best destinations and activities on
this laid-back island in southern Florida.
Be sure to stick around until the end of the video to learn some of the famous people that
have called Key West home over the years.
Some of them might surprise you!
And remember to click like and hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss any of our upcoming
videos!
Visit Mallory Square Mallory Square is in the middle of all the
action and one of the most popular things to do in Key West.
Hundreds of people gather here every night to watch the magical Key West sunset.
You’ll find street performers, musicians, and vendors selling all kinds of foods.
You’ll find yourself in the middle of a party with a festive atmosphere.
It’s a must-see for anyone visiting the island, but especially if it’s your first
time there.
And if you like the idea of having a drink in your hand while you watch the sun go down,
check out Bistro 245 an hour or so before sunset.
The bar and restaurant is next to Mallory Square so you’ll have a front-row view!
Bar Hopping on Duval Street If an exciting nightlife is more your style,
check out the bars along Duval Street.
Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach might be the most well-known Spring Break destinations
in Florida but you can spend endless days bar hopping along Duval Street too.
The most famous bar in Key West is Sloppy Joe’s.
It opened the day after Prohibition ended way back in 1933 and was one of Ernest Hemingway's
favorite spots during the years he spent in Key West.
There are plenty of other bars with fun things to do in Key West, Florida though.
Hank’s Hair of the Dog Saloon offers live music throughout the afternoon and into the
night.
And right behind Hank’s, you’ll find Garbo’s Grill — a food truck that serves tacos and
burritos with an Asian twist.
Garbo’s is one of the island’s best options for cheap eats.
If rum is your drink of choice, be sure to check out the Rum Bar.
They’ve got a long list of rums to choose from and their Rum Runners are amazing.
Some of the other most popular bars include the Green Parrot, the Bull and Whistle Bar,
the Green Parrot, and the Bourbon Street Bar.
Like we said, you could spend endless days hopping from bar to bar on Duval Street!
Learn How Rum is Made For all of you rum aficionados, you can even
learn how rum is made and do a tasting at one of the distilleries in Key West.
The Key West First Legal Rum Distillery was the first to open, as you can probably guess
from the name.
It offers free tours all week.
The 15-minute tours run every 20 minutes so you can drop in anytime.
Papa’s Pillar is a newer distillery that makes rum named in honor of Ernest Hemingway,
who was well-known for his love of the amber elixir.
Its tours are a little longer, lasting 45 minutes.
They also offer cocktail classes so you can learn how to make some fantastic mixed drinks.
Take an Unforgettable Ride on a Floating Tiki Bar
We promise this list of things to do in Key West, Florida isn’t all about the best places
to get a drink!
But before we move on to other activities, we have to mention the floating tiki bar.
You can cruise around the island while seated at a tiki bar, sipping on a tasty tropical
cocktail.
You can choose from mangrove tours, sunset tours, or swimming tours or even take a private
tour with up to six friends.
Lounge On One of Key West’s Gorgeous Beaches Key West isn’t that big but it offers a
surprising range of beaches, from popular hotspots to more private and secluded options.
Smathers Beach is the island’s most popular beach.
The two-mile stretch of white sand is on the south side of the island, near the airport.
You can rent beach chairs, umbrellas, paddleboards, kayaks, and Hobie sailboats from vendors along
the beach.
If you bring a volleyball, you can also strike up a game in one of the courts on the beach.
Fort Zachary Taylor Beach is in Fort Zachary Taylor State Park.
This is another great thing to do in Key West, Florida but there is a small cost to this
one.
You’ll pay $6 per vehicle to enter the park, with lower prices for motorcycles, bicycles,
and pedestrians.
The beach is open from 8am to sunset all year round.
You can do everything you would expect at a beach in Key West, such as sunbathing, swimming,
and snorkeling but there are some more unique activities as well.
Take a yoga class on the beach, go fishing, or tour the fort for a change of pace.
Harry S. Truman Little White House President Truman reportedly spent 175 days
of his presidency in Key West, in a building that served as his "winter White House" starting
in 1946.
Official documents issued while he was there read "the White House, US Naval Station, Key
West, Florida.”
In the years since, several other presidents have used it as a retreat, including Eisenhower,
Kennedy, and Clinton.
The historic building offers tours that run every 20 minutes.
There’s even a VIP White Glove Experience that goes past what you see on a normal tour.
Check your budget for the white glove experience though — you’ll spend more than $500 for
the tour.
Visit the Southernmost Point in the Mainland U.S.
Key West is the southernmost point in the continental U.S. Hawaii is the only place
further south in the entire country.
And if you want to visit the actual southernmost point, you can get your picture taken beside
the official marker.
At that spot, you’re only 90 miles away from Cuba!
Take a Relaxing Day Trip to the Dry Tortugas Dry Tortugas National Park is a group of seven
small islands at the end of the Florida Keys.
They’re surrounded by reefs that have caused many shipwrecks over the years.
The United States took advantage of these reefs, creating one of the most strategic
harbors in U.S. history.
Most of the park is water but you’ll also find coral reefs, nesting grounds for several
types of bird, and historic Fort Jefferson.
You can tour the fort, go swimming or snorkeling, or camp on Garden Key.
You’ll need to take a seaplane, ferry, or private charter to get to the Dry Tortugas.
Plan on spending at least a half day on the side trip but budget a full day if you can.
Take a Boat Tour of Key West Boat tours are another one of the great things
to do in Key West, Florida because you can combine several activities in one.
You can choose from sailing, snorkeling, or kayaking tours as well as sunset cruises and
fishing expeditions.
Several tours are designed for dolphin watching.
The waters off the island are a refuge for hundreds of dolphins every year so you’ll
see plenty of them swimming alongside your boat.
If you choose a snorkeling tour, you’ll likely end up at the Florida Keys Reef which
is the only living coral barrier reef in North America.
It’s about 6 miles offshore and the shallow waters are ideal for beginners.
Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters If you don’t mind heights, the Key West
Lighthouse offers some beautiful views of the island.
You’ll climb 88 constricting steps to get to the top for the best views.
The balcony at the top is also quite narrow so you’ll need to be patient if you go at
a busy time.
After you take in the views, you can look around the keeper’s quarters which date
back to 1848.
The cozy quarters are a museum now, offering a look at the history of lighthouses in the
Keys.
The lighthouse and museum are open every day except Christmas and are located directly
across the street from the fantastic Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum.
Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum Hemingway is one of Key West’s most famous
residents.
He lived on the island from 1931 to 1939 and his house is now a historic landmark.
Hemingway’s home is one of, if not the most popular thing to do in Key West, Florida.
During your visit, you’ll learn about Hemingway himself as well as lots of great Key West
history.
Your admission fee includes a 20 to 30-minute tour of the property and if you’re a cat
lover, you’ll be in heaven — Hemingway’s property is home to lots of them!
When you see one, check out their tiny paws — they’re famous for having six or seven
toes!
Other Famous Residents We’ve already mentioned Ernest Hemingway
and President Truman but they’re not the only famous residents of the island.
The author Judy Blume spends a lot of her time in her home in Key West and the island
is where Jimmy Buffet got his start in 1971, when he started his musical career by playing
for drinks at the Chart Room Bar!
Even Bob Dylan has a connection to the island.
He spent time in saloons on Greene Street going back decades, as immortalized in his
song Key West (Philosopher Pirate).
Been to Key West before?
What's your absolute favorite thing to do in the area?
Let us know in the comments below!